UNIT 5 SESSION 1 Use Week of: ANGELS SPOKE TO MARY AND JOSEPH BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 KEY PASSAGE: Galatians 4:4 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born. The Bible Story Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 BIBLE STORY FOR TODDLERS God promised long ago that He would send a special King. At just the right time, God sent an angel to a girl named Mary. The angel told Mary that she was going to have a baby boy God s Son. Mary was surprised, but she believed God s words. Mary was going to marry Joseph. Joseph found out Mary was going to have a baby. He was confused, but an angel told Joseph in a dream that Mary s baby was God s very own Son. Joseph would name Him Jesus because He would take away sin. Joseph believed God s words. When he woke up, Joseph married Mary. BABIES GOSPEL GEMS *God * promised to send Jesus to earth. *God * chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus family. *Jesus * was born just as God promised. *Jesus * is God s Son. Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject. 26 Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 1
Babies Activities LOOK IN THE BIBLE Provide hand-size Bibles for babies to hold and turn the pages. Open your Bible to Luke 1. Show the Bible story picture and say the Gospel Gems in a soothing voice. Read the key passage card. SAY: The Bible tells us that Jesus is God s Son! God promised to send Jesus to earth. JESUS WAS BORN. [Pray for the babies.] SING A SONG Sing to the chorus of Jingle Bells : Jesus is, Jesus is, Jesus is God s Son! God sent Jesus to be born Because He loves us so! SAY: God promised long ago to send Jesus to earth. JESUS WAS BORN just as God promised. MAKE SOCK PUPPETS Make simple puppets out of clean socks. Use a marker to draw Mary and Joseph s faces. Use the Mary and Joseph puppets to tell the Gospel Gems or the key passage to the babies. SAY: God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus family. Jesus is God s Son! JESUS WAS BORN just as God promised. PAINT WITH JINGLE BELLS Place a sheet of paper inside a freezer bag with jingle bells and a squirt of paint. Seal the bag with duct tape. Guide the babies to squeeze, touch, and jingle the bag as they sit or lay on their tummies. Remove the art work and set it aside to dry. SAY: Jingle bells remind us that JESUS WAS BORN! Check diapers, serve bottles if needed, and release babies to parents according to your church s security guidelines. Give parents today s big picture card. Repeat the Gospel Gems and Bible-learning activities for babies who stay a second hour. Christmas 27
Toddler Activities CIRCLE TIME (5 MINUTES) Provide small Bibles for toddlers to handle. Say the Bible is God s words. Read the key passage card and guide toddlers to say it. Open your Bible to Luke 1. Show the Bible story picture as you tell the Bible story. Say the Main Point. Pray for the toddlers. PRAISE JESUS WITH MUSIC Stretch rubber bands around an open container such as an empty diaper wipes box or shoe box. Tape the rubber bands to the box so they will not come loose. Guide the toddlers to make sounds. SAY: Christmas is a happy time! Jesus is God s Son. We can make music to celebrate that JESUS WAS BORN! PLAY OUT THE BIBLE STORY Print the Nativity printable and tape the figures to large interlocking or wooden blocks. Show toddlers the figures and help them play out the Bible story. SAY: God chose a family for Jesus. Mary and Joseph believed that Jesus is God s Son! JESUS WAS BORN just as God promised. FIND BABY JESUS Hide a baby doll in plain sight in the classroom and invite toddlers to find it. SAY: Jesus is God s Son! God promised to send Jesus to earth because He loves us. JESUS WAS BORN just as God promised. EXAMINE FAMILIES Provide pictures of your own family. Invite toddlers to look at the pictures. Talk about how God chose a family for Jesus. SAY: Jesus is God s Son. JESUS WAS BORN as a tiny baby just like you were once born as a baby. God sent Jesus because He loves us! 28 Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 1
Bonus Teaching Hour ANGELS SPOKE TO MARY AND JOSEPH BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 KEY PASSAGE: Galatians 4:4 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born. TRANSITION ACTIVITY: MAKE FAMILIES Help toddlers make play dough families using rolling pins and people-shaped cookie cutters. SAY: God had a plan to send Jesus. God sent Jesus to earth because He loves us. God chose a family for Jesus. JESUS WAS BORN as a baby. Jesus is God s Son! MARCH TO MUSIC Play music as toddlers march around the room. When the music stops, invite them to shout Jesus is God s Son! or JESUS WAS BORN! SAY: An angel gave a special message to Mary and Joseph. God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus family. Jesus is God s Son! JESUS WAS BORN just as God promised. PRETEND TO SLEEP Invite toddlers to lay down and close their eyes as if they are sleeping. Count to three, and then invite toddlers to wake up. SAY: A dream is a picture that you see in your mind while you are sleeping. An angel spoke to Joseph in a dream. The angel said Jesus is God s Son! JESUS WAS BORN just as God promised. Check diapers, serve a snack if needed, and release toddlers to parents according to your church s security procedures. Give parents today s big picture card to reinforce today s Bible story, Main Point, or Gospel Gems throughout the week. Christmas 29
God sent His Son. (HCSB) God sent forth his Son. (KJV) God sent forth his Son. (ESV) God sent his Son. (NIV) Christmas Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide Unit 5 2015 LifeWay OK to Print Key Passage Cards Instructions: Print these cards on colorful paper and cut them out. You may want to laminate the cards.
Christmas Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide Unit 5 Sessions 1 & 2 2015 LifeWay OK to Print Nativity Instructions: Print and use as directed in the Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide.